Larksmead Pre-School

Larksmead Pre-School Larksmead Pre School, The Lodge, 58 Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7LN

p.1

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 13 July 2016 Not applicable

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

p.1

This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

p.1

This provision is good

 Children are happy, settled and confident. They share a close, warm relationship with their key person and staff, who support their emotional development effectively.  Staff plan a wide range of stimulating and challenging experiences and activities, which children enjoy. Children make good progress from their starting points.  There are effective partnerships with parents, other early years settings and external agencies. These help to meet children's needs and support positive outcomes for children.  The management and staff regularly reflect on their practice. Their self-evaluation is effective and leads to clear action plans for ongoing improvement.  Management and staff are good role models. They teach the children to be kind and respectful to one another. They support children well with gentle reminders about acceptable behaviour and encourage them to share and take turns.

p.1

It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always organise themselves effectively to help children to concentrate, listen and fully participate in group activities.  Staff do not use information on children's learning to monitor the progress made by different groups of children, to help them evaluate the effectiveness of learning more precisely.

p.1

What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

p.2

What the setting needs to do to improve further

 review the deployment of staff at group times so that children are supported to concentrate, listen and fully participate  develop the good monitoring and assessment systems so that they focus more on how groups of children are progressing.

p.2

Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching and the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with one of the play leaders.  The inspector spoke to staff, children and parents.  The inspector sampled a range of documentation, including children's learning records and safeguarding procedures.  The inspector held a meeting with the joint play leaders and the chairperson.

p.2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

Safeguarding is effective. Management and staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the pre-school's safeguarding procedures. They follow these well to protect children from harm and know what to do if they have any concerns about a child's welfare. Staff make regular observations of children engaged in activities. They accurately assess children and plan activities to support their next steps in learning and close any gaps in development. Parents are fully involved in their children's learning and speak highly of the staff. Management and staff keep up to date with current information through training and by communicating with other professionals. They use their good knowledge and their qualifications to meet children's needs effectively.

p.3

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the pre-school. Staff communicate well with children to extend their learning. For example, children match items and quickly calculate how many 'pairs' they have. Staff encourage children to solve problems successfully by using skilful questioning, which requires more than a yes or no answer. Children enjoy moving in time to music, and follow instructions carefully. They use their imaginations well as they think about how they would move if they were, for example, an earthworm with no legs.

p.3

Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

Staff teach the children about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Children enjoy helping to prepare snacks and understand the reasons why they must follow good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands before eating. Children enjoy being active and enthusiastically take part in activities which support their physical development. For example, they balance on beams and jump between stepping stones in the garden. They put on hard hats and use hammers as they role play being a builder. Staff use resources, such as a choosing board, to help children learn about fairness and taking turns.

p.3

Outcomes for children are good

All children, including those who need extra help, make good progress and learn important skills in preparation for their next stage in learning and school. Children confidently recognise their own name at mealtimes and for registration. Children enjoy looking at books and practising their early writing skills, which supports their development in literacy. Children's mathematical knowledge is good. They recognise numbers and count in routines and activities. For example, they count the scoops of sand they need to fill a large pan.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY481556 Local authority Dorset Inspection number 989492 Type of provision Sessional provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 21 Number of children on roll 37 Name of registered person Larksmead Pre-School

p.4

reference number

Date of previous inspection Not applicable Telephone number 01258 468363

p.4

reference number

Larksmead Pre-School re-registered in its current premises in 2014. It operates from The Lodge in the grounds of the North Dorset District Council in Blandford Forum, Dorset. The pre-school is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged, two, three and four years. It operates from Monday to Friday, 8am until 6pm, term time only. There are five members of staff who work with the children; all hold early years qualifications at level 3.

p.4

reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

p.4

reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.4

reference number

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/, write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

reference number

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user.

p.5

reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.5